August 31, 2014: Random

Shannon
I'm continuing of going a vlog series of watching films from A to Z that a bunch of folks are doing on YouTube. I'm actually trying to get a bit ahead in the watching part as I know I'll get behind later. BUT while I was researching options for "I", I came across a bunch of BLUE inspired films. I know I'll watching them all. Randomly (hahah, I worked that in), Beneath The Blue was one of the first films Netflix ever recommended to me. I still have to watch it though :)

August 30, 2014

Shannon
I have been having so much fun looking up colours in the HP Colour Thesaurus (thanks Jamie!). I find so many things fascinating, like how it gives whether the colour is widely or rarely used, similar colours and also their colour antonyms. I had never heard of a colour antonyms before, but it looks like it's true complement (aka the direct opposite on the colour wheel). I look click and search through this site for hours.

August 29, 2014

Shannon
Me with my 'bright red' (aka NEON) phone. I think I don't ever want to let it out of my site, and it's not likely I'll ever be able to even if I wanted to! And sidenote, my new technique with concealer appears to have worked, which was simply using more. I look way less baggy than normal!

Suzie

Last night we spent with our friends to the restaurant Chives and had a lovely meal. This photo was taken at the end of the night and the humidity got to Reg's hair, looks so cute. Those are friends Emily, Gareth and Chris. Awesome night.

August 28, 2014

Shannon
I'm still all about my new phone (especially as today I got the 'phone' part of the phone set up). I love being able to see what's going on on Facebook, starting to get the hang of Instagram, adoring watching shows on various apps and of course Netflix. I was also really happy to see that the TV Tag app seems to work okay, despite user reviews. It also a website, one for checking into shows that you are watching. I used to use it religiously, but it changed and my old phone couldn't handle the update. You can see that it's been almost a YEAR since I checked in last. That's a long time. Now it's just a matter of if I will still love it :)

Suzie

The house is officially no longer ours. Things closed very fast, much faster than we were expecting and all of a sudden our agent was there and we left. I didn't even get to finish cleaning! I feel elated. It is not just the freedom of responsibility but the end of a cycle that I knew was inevitable. Having my feet in the past, present and almost future was exhausting. Now, I know where I am going. I feel free.

August 26, 2014

Shannon
My new phone arrived! It might be the first day I can remember where I was like "Screw my to do list! I'm gonna play instead!". It's so exciting to have a phone that apps actually work. Although I am worried once I start watching Netflix this way, no one will see me for days.

Suzie

Yesterday was load day. It started off late but then everything came together in the end. Oh those poor guys, what a hot day and a ton of work! Of course Reg had to help every now and then. I of course snuck photographs.

August 25, 2014

Jamie 

I spent Sunday working on my Seven Soul Symbols class coming this fall. I woke up with it on my mind and sat completing the outline in my pyjamas before I'd even got coffee! I've been excited to develop the process and have been having so much fun creating the exercises myself.

Shannon
I'm continuing to really enjoy drawing, although this plant was giving me some mucho challenges. The one I drew last week, I am very familiar with but this was a new one. So many new shapes to explore and recreate on the page!

 

Suzie

On Sunday we had a very long day that started with Reg, his brother Chris and friends coming over to help move a lot of our stuff to our neighbour's place. Then we were at a BBQ with friends. It's all wonderful and bittersweet at the same time. And right now, I really miss our couch. Blogging on a bean bag chair just isn't the same!

August 24, 2014: Random

Jamie 

I am just loving putting the date into the search and seeing what I get for random. I love this shot of someone out on Lake Ontario. It's so serene and almost looks impossible.

Shannon
I've been doing a lot of thinking about how we see and interpret things, and while I was thinking about that I looked out the window and saw this..and to me it totally looks like there is a floating robot.

 

Suzie

This is taped to the top of the bottom of the stairs at the family cottage. I love that the table and chairs reminds me of The Friendly Giant. We were down at the bay for a final family get together which was awesome. I ate a lifetime worth of mussels. They are never as good, anywhere else. I got knocked over off wet rocks by a giant dog named Indy and we got a tour of the bay with family.

August 22, 2014

Jamie

Yesterday I was out and about for appointments and errands. One thing I was on a mission for was a pair of all-purpose, comfy yet stylish short boots for Holland. And I found them!! After looking at tons of basic black, this teal beauties caught my eye. I couldn't believe it when I tried them on and they were comfortable! Imagine! The woman helping me told me they had just put these on the shelf that day. What luck! You never know with shoes until you get out and about but I am hopeful these will be my magical new journey boots!

Shannon
Watched the Veronica Mars movie. Wow. I totally enjoyed it, and I totally don't remember the series as well as I thought I would. Some characters, yes....others... totally forgot. It's wild to see something that started on Kickstarter and than really, truly, came to life. They did their fans proud.

Suzie

Hopefully yesterday was the last time we will ever step into a building to deal with crap. We got kicked into the financial groin in a huge way again. I am looking forward to disassociating myself from anything to with this stuff ever again.

Aug 21, 2014

Jamie

I tried a little experiment. If I put out all the supplies ahead of time, would I be able to paint an art journal background in the time it took to make a cup of tea? It was fun to do and my answer is mostly yes! This is totally possible if you don't care about paint mushing together because it's not dry. I ended up really liking the page but I think generally a slightly more relaxed pace would be more fun. One tea - gesso the pages. Next tea - add one or two colours. Next tea - add the next.

Shannon
Did a lot of organization today, even though Monday is really my day for that but I was feeling under the weather then so it was time to get to it today. There is a lot to plan and work on though, so it was a bit overwhelming. But I got my lists up to date. Yay for that.

Suzie

Yesterday I had a chance to do a quick photoshoot of the Do Us A Flavour chip contenders. Food blogging on top of all the craziness of the move has been next to impossible but I am doing my best!

August 20, 2014

Jamie

This feels like a bit of a random pic but I did take it yesterday. I love it when little statueslike this become a part of a scene. This little girl is knitting by Shannon's plant and has even attracted another bird - one of those Red Rose figurines I've had since I was a little girl.

Shannon
I may have temporarily revived my phone. I'm still ordering a new one though, this sucker has served me well but it's time to splash out and get a mega~awesome phone.

Suzie

Yesterday was my last visit with my doctor. I got all my prescriptions filled and she gave me a big hug and I know I am going to be a little lost without her. Once again, I'll be scouring Vancouver looking for that special healer. We also had paperwork with the house to do and a delivery to make (deep freeze) and a deal for our dishwasher fell through. What a crazy day!

August 19, 2014

Jamie 

Recently a friend asked me to participate in a mandala event and I was a little shy about saying I'd actually never tried making mandalas before. In fact, I wasn't sure where to start! She gave me some tips and I've been experimenting and having lots of fun. I think these just might become a regular part of my creative life! Who knew?

Shannon
I was definitely feeling under the weather today, and as such it was time to watch a bad movie. Selection was: Sharknado 2: The Second One, which Discovery.ca aired to cap of their annual Shark Week.

Suzie

Monday was all about trying to sell stuff in our house and/or find homes for things we can't take with us. It was a big success although there are a few things we still have. It was a lot of fun to do and man, I do like selling stuff. I know it sounds weird but I find it a ton of fun.

August 18, 2014

Jamie This weekend was the first ever Open Street Toronto. They closed a whole strip of Bloor and Yonge to cars so that people could roam freely and enjoy this part of the city. We found out about it from our guitar teacher and had an amazing time listening to him play. I'm so glad I can share this moment with you.

Shannon
I had a lot of fun art-day-ing with Jamie on Sunday! I chose to draw my plant, Happy, and that by the end had some leaf drawings I was really happy about. Har har. A groaner, I know!

Suzie

Since we got back I have been busy with setting up new accounts out west for cable, internet… We also went through our gazillionth purge and there is more to go. Even though we have a great apartment, it will not accommodate everything we have and there is zero storage space so out the door it goes! Bye bye fuggly sweaters and turtlenecks! I really wish I had the chance to photograph our new place but the tenants were there at the time so we're going by memory and I feel like there is tons more to be given away.

August 17, 2014: Random Pic

Jamie 

With Suzie and Reg officially leaving the east coast, I've been thinking about what a great time I've had visiting!  I love this picture even though I have a lighthouse growing out of my head - the picture of Spy Photographer Suzie in the background makes me smile!

Shannon
I think Mr. Man has officially mastered the paw-over-paw-crossover.

Suzie

This is the crazy-intense super moon from last week seen from the deck at our hotel. Man, did it ever play havoc with us! But we got through our fears and doubts and insecurities, thank goodness. Craziness!

August 16, 2014

Jamie

I was so glad to get down to the beach this Friday. Usually in August I try to give myself some days off, often come down here to journal and walk around. Things have been so busy this is the first chance I've had and it was a total treat!

Shannon
I have been working on different make up combos for vlogging, and I quite like how this one turned out in pics but in the vids and in person it felt a little heavy for daytime. Omg, did I just say that?

August 15, 2014

Jamie

I've been feeling pretty proud of myself lately for getting back to running. The cooler weather absolutely helps. Now that I'm carrying my phone with me when I go, I'm loving catching more shots cat s in the hood (when I'm warming up or cooling down, of course!) I've seen this beauty three times - each time on a different porch, hehe.

Shannon
Finished watching yet another series, this time it was Human Target. I had watched a few eps of this when it originally aired and I remember one holiday-ish one grabbing me, so I kept waiting for that one to appear and it never quite did. I think in my brain I had smished it together with an episode of Bones. Odd. Anyhow, quite enjoyed the series although liked S1 way better than S2. Ah, well!

August 14, 2014

Jamie

It seems awfully early but a bunch of leaves have started to fall. I couldn't believe it when I was sitting out back reading and this huge beauty fell right at my feet. Look at the size of it! I have to take it as an auspicious sign of some kind!

Shannon
I'm on the hunt for a new phone (mine is barely functional...again...), and in doing so I thought I would make a little mock up of one of the ones in the running. Of course, I couldn't help but compare it to my current phone. They've gotten a *lot* bigger these days!

August 13, 2014

 

Jamie

Every time I manage to get out for a run I am so proud of myself! And I love carrying my phone with me so that I can grab wonderful moments like this. I only take them during walk times - though I have admittedly taken lots of accidental shots while running, LOL!

Shannon
I've always been impressed with the ability cats have to find new places in the same spaces. This time, I helped a little by moving a blanket onto a very cat-sized rubberneck and voila! Cat is now in a cozy new spot.

August 12, 2014

Shannon
I forgot to take pictures yesterday, so this is a weekend holdover with Daddy Long Legs. It was really odd, because I didn't like it very much and it was a Fred Astaire film and that was confusing at best. It's the 'D' film for playing along with the Films from A to Zed, and so far from the 4 films I've seen I think the South Korean espionage film that I barely understood was the best. I'm wondering if perhaps I should do more research before watching stuff.

August 11, 2014

Jamie

This weekend Justin and I thought we'd head out on a little adventure for a walk to a used bookstore nearby. Little did we know we were heading into a major Toronto festival - Taste of the Danforth!! We ended up having the best pecan bar we'd ever had and the bookstore was a treat. TI even came home with a book of the journals of Alec Guinness - delightful!

Shannon
Trying my hand at art journalling, from a new perspective or possibly for the first time. I really never thought about specifically doing a journal entry (on the page) that was a visual description of my day/week/an idea/etc. It's funny because that feels like that's what the first idea of what it is, although that's never how I've seen it before. It will be interesting to see how the journey goes.

August 10, 2014: Random

Jamie

Well, this is about as random as it gets. Last year at this time Justin and I went for a walk one evening and stumbled across... Elvis! You never know what you're going to see when you step out your front door!

August 9, 2014

Jamie

It was wonderful continuing to celebrate Shannon's birthday - this time at the Mandarin with the Ridlers! It was so hard to say goodbye to Jason though. This visit seemed to go by so quickly. Each moment was precious.

Shannon
Family dinner at the Mandarin time! It was nice to catch up with everyone and celebrate birthdays and also see Jason one more time before he headed back home. Good times (and big smiles!).

August 8, 2014

Jamie

It was great to get out to guitar last night - and then also out to the pub! We actually had a quiet spot and had a fun time catching up and chatting about all of our travels - both the ones we've been on and the ones we dream of!

Shannon
It feels like summer finale week, even though it's only the first full week of August! The first finale I've watched was Longmire, and I really loved this show after watching the first two season on Netflix and the third season live on A&E. It's a contemporary western, and does the story a week + great characters + some longer arc stuff too. I really hope they renew it. Fingers crossed!

August 7, 2014

Jamie

I've been holding on to this wonderfully strong box for ages and now I know what for - pens!! Who thought I would start to enjoy drawing and doodling so much? It's exciting to discover more and more what works for me, what colours I love, what kind of mediums, what thickness, the lot. And I love having this box to carry my stuff around easily from room to room!

Shannon
A quiet moment with the Jinx. She was so cute sleeping away, I feel bad the sound of taking the picture totally work her up!

August 6, 2014

Jamie

Wow, how did this visit feel so short! It has been so great to hang out with Jason this weekend. We've gone out for brunch, chowed down on waffles, gone to the movies, walked to the beach and talked, talked talked like only Ridlers can do, LOL! I'm so glad he's swinging by one more time before he heads back stateside.

Shannon
It was totally time for an art store adventure! I ended up switching my mind on stuff several times, but went with a kids project book for a journal, chalk pastels and these weird "plastic" crayon type things that are pretty cool but also totally weird. They are like a crayon, but no little waxy bits fly off and they don't leave any residue on your hands. I think I'm going to have fun exploring with them!